8 Reasons to Practice Meditation

Meditation is simply directed concentration, and involves learning to focus your awareness and direct it onto an object: your breath, a phrase or word repeated silently, a memorized inspirational passage, or an image in the mind's eye. The benefits of meditation are numerous, and include:

1.Helping lower blood pressure

2.Decreasing heart and respiratory rates

3.Increasing blood flow

4.Enhancing immune function

5.Reducing perception of pain

6.Relieving chronic pain due to arthritis and other disorders

7.Maintaining level mood

8.Bringing awareness and mindfulness to everyday aspects of life

A simple form of meditation that can be practiced by anyone is to walk or sit quietly in a natural setting and allow your thoughts and sensations to occur; observing them without judgment.